The minimum viable tracker:
| Column | Example |
|---|---|
| Company | Acme Corp |
| Role | Software Engineering Intern |
| Date Applied | 2026-05-01 |
| Status | Applied |
| Follow-up Date | 2026-05-12 |
| Source | LinkedIn / Sorce / company site |
| Contact | recruiter@acme.com |
| Notes | Referred by [Person] |
How to set up
- Open a new Google Sheet.
- Add the columns above as the first row.
- Freeze the header row (View → Freeze → 1 row).
- Add a status dropdown: Applied, Phone Screen, Interview, Offer, Rejected, Closed.
- Color-code by status if you want.
Status field
- Applied — submitted, awaiting response.
- Followed up — sent a follow-up after 7-10 days.
- Phone screen — recruiter screen scheduled.
- Interview — first round and beyond.
- Offer — got an offer.
- Rejected — they said no.
- Closed — withdrew or role filled.
When to update
- After a batch of applications (e.g. Sunday night).
- After follow-ups sent.
- After recruiter contact.
- After every interview.
Batch weekly — don't update in real time.
Tips for internship hunting
- Apply early (October-November for summer internships at top firms).
- Track every application; even rejections give signal.
- Follow up at 7-10 days.
- Cast wide — 50-100 applications is normal for competitive programs.
How Sorce helps
Sorce auto-applies to 5M+ open jobs and internships — 40 free swipes/day. Combine with a tracker to manage the volume.
For more: job application tracker, job tracker, how to follow up on a job application.
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Frequently Asked Questions
- What columns should an internship tracker have?
- Company, role, date applied, status, follow-up date, source, contact name, notes.
- Is a spreadsheet better than an app?
- For most students — yes. Free, customizable, easy. Apps add auto-capture but the spreadsheet covers 90% of needs.
- How often should I update?
- Weekly. Don't track in real-time; batch updates.
- What if I'm applying to dozens of internships?
- A spreadsheet handles 100+ rows fine. For thousands, an app might help — but most internship hunts are under 100 applications.